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NEWS RELEASE: CLARE WINS 5K

A big week of great competition and achievements as our Spartans battled the elements over 5K, muddy Cross Country and a wet Wolverton 5 mile race! Read the latest news release here!

CLARE WINS 5K

Cross Country 28 * Wet Wolverton

Handicap 5K

There were very tough running conditions for the Spartans final handicap 5K of the year as very strong winds blasted their way into the faces of the 28 runners all the way along Grace Way from the 2K marker for nearly two kilometres.

First to finish, in her first 5k with the club was newcomer CLARE MOORE, supported by Jim Brown, in 25 minutes 36 seconds.  Clare was 4 minutes 24 seconds ahead of her handicap!

The winning man was BARRY KING in a year’s best time of 23:12.  DAVE SMITH was second in a new personal best of 22:30.  Newcomer ENDA MURPHY was third in 23:20.

KAREN PALMER was second woman across the line, in 9th position overall, in 26:12.  That was just four days after running the St Neots Half Marathon.  SARAH PIKE was third female in 24:48.

Once again GRANT RAMSAY was fastest on the night.  He was showing no side effects from his county championship winning Luton Marathon run just four days earlier as he completed the course in 17:34 to finish in 10th position overall.  LIAM HERBERT was second quickest man in 19:09 and JAMIE KELLET third fastest in a new personal best of 20:07, 2 seconds quicker than BERNIE BARNABY.

The fastest female was RHIANNON GRIFFIN in 21:16, with SARAH PIKE second quickest and event winner CLARE MOORE third fastest.

Despite the conditions there were still several personal bests (PB) on the night, including for James Marlow +1:09 to 23 minutes 31 seconds; Hannah Davidson +0:39 to 26:01 and Matthew Palacio +0:35 to 23:00.

Pos Name Time R F Comments
1 CLARE MOORE (F) 25:36 20 3 Event Winner.  1st 5K
2 JIM BROWN 25:36 19    
3 BARRY KING 23:12 14   YB (1:17)
4 DAVE SMITH 22:30 11   PB (2:00)
5 ENDA MURPHY 23:20 15   1st 5K
6 MATTHEW PALACIO 23:00 13   PB (0:35)
7 JAMES MARLOW 23:31 16   PB (1:09)
8 JAMIE KELLETT 20:07 3   1st 5K
9 KAREN PALMER (F) 26:12 23 5  
10 GRANT RAMSAY 17:34 1    
11 MATT GILL 22:01 7   YB (2:11)
12 RYAN DUNNING 22:18 9    
13 BERNIE BARNABY 20:09 4    
14 ALEX ROUSE 22:43 12   1st 5K
15 CHRIS LEIGH 26:01 22    
16 HANNAH DAVIDSON (F) 26:01 21 4 PB (0:39)
17 LIAM HERBERT 19:09 2    
18 MARK BEASLEY 21:40 6    
19 SARAH PIKE (F) 24:42 18 2  
20 KERRY SETTERFIELD (F) 32:19 26 7 YB (3:23)
21 RHIANNON GRIFFIN (F) 21:16 5 1  
22 PAUL HOLGATE 26:35 24    
23 LISA GAVIGAN (F) 27:39 25 6  
24 MARK GOODWIN 22:26 10    
25 PETE SMITH 22:15 8    
26 DEAN CARPENTER 24:34 17   1st 5K
27 MATTHEW HOLGATE 42:15 27    
28 SIMON HARRIS 45:18 28    

Time Order:

Time Position Name Time F Comments
1 GRANT RAMSAY 17:34    
2 LIAM HERBERT 19:09    
3 JAMIE KELLETT 20:07   1st 5K
4 BERNIE BARNABY 20:09    
5 RHIANNON GRIFFIN (F) 21:16 1 Fastest Female
6 MARK BEASLEY 21:40    
7 MATT GILL 22:01   YB (2:11)
8 PETE SMITH 22:15    
9 RYAN DUNNING 22:18    
10 MARK GOODWIN 22:26    
11 DAVE SMITH 22:30   PB (2:00)
12 ALEX ROUSE 22:43   1st 5K
13 MATTHEW PALACIO 23:00   PB (0:35)
14 BARRY KING 23:12   YB (1:17)
15 ENDA MURPHY 23:20   1st 5K
16 JAMES MARLOW 23:31   PB (1:09)
17 DEAN CARPENTER 24:34   1st 5K
18 SARAH PIKE (F) 24:42 2 Second Fastest Female
19= JIM BROWN 25:36    
19= CLARE MOORE (F) 25:36 3 1st 5K.  Third Fastest Female
21 HANNAH DAVIDSON (F) 26:01 4 PB (0:39)
22 CHRIS LEIGH 26:01    
23 KAREN PALMER (F) 26:12 5  
24 PAUL HOLGATE 26:35    
25 LISA GAVIGAN (F) 27:39 6  
26 KERRY SETTERFIELD (F) 32:19 7 YB (3:23)
27 MATTHEW HOLGATE 42:15    
28 SIMON HARRIS 45:18    

The next Handicap 5k will be on Thursday 3rd January 2013.

(PB = personal best; SB = season’s best; YB = year’s best).

Fantastic Turnout for Cross Country

There was a brilliant sunny morning for Sunday morning’s cross country fixture but Grovelands Park, Southgate was pretty waterlogged after Saturday’s heavy rain.  Twenty eight Spartans, more than two complete teams, tackled the 8,000 metres three lap course with the heavy going and undulations slowing some down more than others.

RHIANNON GRIFFIN led in the Spartan women’s “A” team with an excellent time of 40 minutes 4 seconds for the tough course, she was supported by an improving MADDIE PRITCHARD (45:40) together with ANN TRYSSESOONE (45:56); HANNAH DAVIDSON (47:45) and KAREN LIDDLE (49:41).

The “B” team was headed up by TRICIA HOPPER (50:20) and also included JEANNETTE COLLINS (52:29); MARIA THORNE (52:35); LORRAINE THOMAS (53:08) and IRIS HORNSEY (54:08).  ELIZABETH and SHARON CROWLEY finished in 58:21.

Three Spartan men finished in the top twenty.  LEE REYNOLDS was ninth in 31 minutes 45 seconds followed by SIMON JACKSON, tenth, in 31:53 and ANDY PATTERSON, twentieth, in 33:05.  The others in the eight man “A” team were DANNY HUKIN, 43rd, in 34:44; TODD GRAY, 85th, in 37:06; ADRIAN DONNELLY, 115th, in 38:37; GRAHAM BLACKBURN, 127th, in 39:36 and MATT GILL, 138th, in 39:52.

STEVE MAYFIELD, 150th in 40:20 led in the “B” team.  He was supported by JIM BROWN, 206th in 43:52; BARRY KING, 231st in 45:17; ANDY PRIOR, 247th in 46:47; MARK CHEADLE, 248th in 46:48; NICK WITCOMBE, 299th in 49 minutes exactly; MATTHEW HOLGATE, 344th in 65:52 and PAUL HOLGATE, 345th also in 65:52.

These results are certain to move the Spartans up the league table when the team results are published.

Steve Mayfield, Paul Holgate, Mark Cheadle, Andy Prior, Simon Jackson, Tricia Hopper and Sharon Crowley had run the very wet Wolverton Five road race the previous afternoon.

Spartan Women:

Overall Position Name Time
141 RHIANNON GRIFFIN 40:04
237 MADDIE PRITCHARD 45:40
240 ANN TRYSSESOONE 45:56
262 HANNAH DAVIDSON 47:45**
281 KAREN LIDDLE 49:41
290 TRICIA HOPPER 50:20
306 JEANETTE COLLINS 52:29
307 MARIA THORNE 52:35**
310 LORRAINE THOMAS 53:08
316 IRIS HORNSEY 54:08
340 ELIZABETH CROWLEY 58:21
341 SHARON CROWLEY 58:21

Spartan Men:

Overall Position Name Time
9 LEE REYNOLDS 31:45
10 SIMON JACKSON 31:53
20 ANDREW PATTERSON 33:05
43 DANNY HUKIN 34:44
85 TODD GRAY 37:06
115 ADRIAN DONNELLY 38:37
127 GRAHAM BLACKBURN 39:36
138 MATT GILL 39:52
150 STEVE MAYFIELD 40:20
206 JIM BROWN 43:52
231 BARRY KING 45:17
247 ANDY PRIOR 46:47
248 MARK CHEADLE 46:48
299 NICK WITCOMBE 49:00**
344 MATTHEW HOLGATE 65:52
345 PAUL HOLGATE 65:52

The next cross country league match will be in St. Albans on Sunday 9th December.

Wet Wolverton

Wolverton was wet, wet, continuously wet for Saturday afternoon’s five mile road race.  Despite that seven of the 17 Spartans ran new personal bests.  SIMON JACKSON was 21st out of the 213 finishers in a new PB of 28 minutes 8 seconds; LIAM HERBERT was 40th in a new PB of 30:25; STEVE MAYFIELD was 77th in a new PB of 34:00; ANDY PRIOR 122nd in 38:54; MARK CHEADLE 127th in 39:33; NICOLA LORIMER 130th in 39:30 and TRICIA HOPPER 142nd in 41 minutes 22 seconds.

RICHARD BATE (28:52); KEVIN SMYTH (34:46); ROGER BIGGS (38:27) and YVONNE JONES (41:50) all ran season’s bests and RYAN DUNNING completed his first five mile race in 37 minutes exactly.  BARRY OSBORNE was second veteran (60 plus) in 32:03 and SIMON BELL third veteran (45 plus) in 30:05.

Position Name Chip Time Comments
21 SIMON JACKSON 28:08 PB (4 seconds)
24 RICHARD BATE 28:52 SB
39 SIMON BELL 30:05 3rd Vet 45 plus
40 LIAM HERBERT 30:25 PB (3 seconds)
61 BARRY OSBORNE 32:03 2nd Vet 60 plus
77 STEVE MAYFIELD 34:00 PB (10 seconds)
84 KEVIN SMYTH 34:46 SB
108 ANNETTE BELL (F) 37:01 YB
109 RYAN DUNNING 37:00 First 5 mile race
120 ROGER BIGGS 38:27 SB
122 ANDY PRIOR 38:54 PB (49 seconds)
127 MARK CHEADLE 39:33 PB (1:15)
130 NICOLA LORIMER (F) 39:30 PB (16 seconds)
137 PAUL HOLGATE 40:40 YB
142 TRICIA HOPPER (F) 41:22 PB (1:37)
145 YVONNE JONES (F) 41:50 SB
155 SHARON CROWLEY (F) 44:02 YB

Sharon’s Silver in Herts Marathon

In the recent Hertfordshire Marathon Championship SHARON CROWLEY took SILVER in the women’s veteran 45 plus category.  ROGER BIGGS won GOLD in the men’s 60 plus category and GRANT RAMSAY took GOLD in the 40 plus category as well as winning the county championship overall.

Baggage for VLM.

The London Marathon is not until Sunday 21st April but Fairlands Valley Spartans are already signing up volunteers for help in Pall Mall.  The club have helped make the event a success for many years.  Places for the baggage will be allocated after the draw for running place at the Spartans Christmas Party which is on Friday, 14th December 2012.

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:

  • Cross Country League in St Albans on Sunday 9th December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 14th December.
  • Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30th December.
  • Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 3rd January 2013.
  • County Cross Country Championships at Haileybury College on Sunday 6th January.
  • Cross Country League on Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13th January.
  • Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17th February.
  • Virgin London Marathon on 21st April.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage?  Like running?  Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up!  The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010.  It now has over 400 members and encourages participation by all.  The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  Go along to drama studio next to the gymnastics centre at Marriotts School — a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 0AN) at 7p.m.  Up to five running groups go out on training nights — there will be one to suit you!

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp.  Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m.  There are events to enter every Sunday.  Newcomers are very welcome — those who have not done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining.  Membership is only £27 per year.  Concessions are available.  Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk  Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

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